Duane Bobick
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Duane Bobick (born 24 August 1950 in Little Falls, Minnesota) was a boxer from the United States, who became world amateur heavyweight champion in 1971, and also won the gold medal at the 1971 Pan American Games. He fought for the United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, and later contended for the world heavyweight belt during the division's most highly rated era.
Six foot, three inches tall and 215 pounds in his prime, Bobick was part of a boxing family and grew up with the sport in the 1960s. A tremendous puncher who developed well early by virtue of countless hours in the gym and ring, Bobick had an outstanding amateur career that included a win over Cuba's famous Teófilo Stevenson to win the world amateur heavyweight championship for the USA. Bobick added another future champion to his list when he beat Larry Holmes to be named to the 1972 U.S. Olympic boxing team for the Munich Olympics.
Bobick was rated a star at this early stage, and may have been very overconfident as he met Stevenson again during the Olympic trials. Despite winning the second round, Stevenson knocked Bobick down in the third and the contest was stopped. Bobick was beaten so clearly by Stevenson, he also lost his next Olympic match and failed to medal, a sore disappointment.
Bobick trained hard to start his pro career, which did not begin until the following spring, 1973. Bobick trained with and was managed by heavyweight legend Joe Frazier. Bobick's first match was against Tommy Burns. He sent Burns to the canvas four times on his way to a first-round KO. Bobick had 14 other fights in 1973, winning them all by KO, including a win over former contender Manuel Ramos.
He had 10 more fights in 1974, winning them all again, eight by KO. Knockout wins that year included Ted Gullick and future champion Mike Weaver. He also decisioned veteran boxer Billy Daniels. Bobick was now 25-0 with 23 KOs. He was then rated by many to be the sport's new "White Hope," taking that label from then-declining Jerry Quarry. Frazier himself was approaching retirement and focusing on upcoming paydays with protege Bobick.
Bobick gained top-10 ranking in 1975 with eight more fights and wins, all again by KO. He was now being dodged by some, but a win over Randy Neumann proved he could not be ignored. He had a tentative contract with Muhammed Ali in 1976, but the fight never materialized. Instead he met and defeated Randy Middleton, fellow Minnesotan Scott LeDoux, Bunny Johnson and Chuck Wepner among his five 1976 fights, all wins with two KOs. Bobick had now improved enough as a boxer to be a legitimate title threat.
He took a 38-0 record with 34 KO's into the ring against powerful former champion Ken Norton in May 1977. The two punchers went right after each other. Norton connected first and very hard. Following up on the staggered Bobick, Norton also landed a hard punch to Bobick's windpipe but was never penalized. The fight lasted just one minute before Bobick was counted out. Bobick was widely criticized after the Norton match and dismissed by many.
Despite that, he was back in the ring two months later, winning a rematch with Scott LeDoux. He finished the year 1977 40-1 with 36 KO's.
In 1978, he was upset by South African puncher Kallie Knoetze for his second KO loss. He fought eight more times against second-tier fighters in 1978, winning all by KO. He was looking to return to top-level contention in 1979 when he was KO'd by future beltholder John Tate. Another KO loss to George Chaplin that year led to an announcement of retirement. His pro record was 48-4 with 42 KOs with wins over several notable contenders. All four of his pro losses were by KO.
Bobick returned to Minnesota and took heavy industry work before a machine accident nearly killed him in 1997. After that he went into coaching and public speaking, using his still-present celebrity to encourage and help others. In November 2006, Bobick was elected as a city councilman for the City of Little Falls, Minnesota.
Bobick also tried his hand at acting as, naturally, a boxer in 'Billboy' in 1979. His brother Rodney also was a professional boxer with a 37-7 record. Bobick is remembered as one of the many 1970's heavyweight boxing stars and one of the finest amateur heavyweights ever.
